Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5) Review

Bravia 5 / XR5

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Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  Main photo

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Panel type: LCD VA Refresh rate: 120Hz Brand: SONY Resolution: 3840x2160 System: Google TV Model year: 2025

This TV was tested by:
Last updated::
9/8/2025 12:07:33 PM

Sony Bravia 5 is the latest Mini-LED television from the Japanese manufacturer for 2025. This model continues the line of the popular Bravia X90L, introducing a greater number of backlight zones while retaining what was the strongpoint of the X90L: the XR processor responsible for image processing and a 120 Hz panel with MotionFlow technology. In addition, it supports Dolby Vision, has a complete set of functions for gamers, and features the well-known Google TV system. Therefore, the Bravia 5 aims to be a universal television – one that is designed to perform well in both cinematic viewing and dynamic gaming or everyday television watching. Is it truly a worthy successor to the X90L model? We checked this for you in our review!

Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  TV features

SONY BRAVIA 5 (XR5) - Our verdict

7.6

Overall rating

Sony Bravia 5 is the continuation of the iconic X90L model, and it's clear that the manufacturer aimed to take a step forward. A greater number of backlighting zones have been implemented, which makes the contrast seem better in many scenes, with deeper blacks than its predecessor. The 120 Hz panel and MotionFlow system allow you to tailor the fluidity of the image to your own preferences – from a slight cinematic texture to crystal smooth motion in sports and games. This is a device that is unafraid of any content, because regardless of whether we're watching a match, an action film, or a concert, the image maintains clarity and character. However, the true strength of the Bravia 5 remains its XR processor. It's what makes older materials look better than they should – upscaling works like magic here, smoothing out noise, improving gradation, and providing coherence even to content of lower quality. As a result, in everyday use, the Bravia 5 can surprise, because instead of battling with signal imperfections, it extracts the maximum from them. Additionally, there's excellent colour reproduction once calibrated, as well as dynamic tone mapping with Dolby Vision mode, allowing you to enjoy details even in challenging, high-contrast scenes. However, it cannot be hidden that at several moments, the Bravia 5 has let us down significantly. Despite the greater number of zones, brightness and contrast are not always better than in the X90L – sometimes they even perform worse. This raises a sense of wasted potential, as we were hoping for a greater qualitative leap. After all, we are talking about a true MINI-LED television here. Nevertheless, the Bravia 5 remains an excellent TV for those who want to enjoy quality image above all. If you're looking for a model that can impress with smooth motion, extracts details from difficult scenes, and works wonders with older materials, the Bravia 5 will easily meet these expectations. It's a television that sometimes cannot quite match the competition in certain respects, but still defends itself with what Sony does best – cinematic imagery.

Advantages

  • Exemplary upscaling and digital image processing – Sony's proprietary XR processor

  • Very good picture quality after calibration

  • Solid contrast for a Mini-LED screen

  • Great support for HDR content thanks to Dolby Vision and dynamic tone mapping

  • High motion smoothness at 120Hz

  • Outstanding input lag (7 ms at 120 Hz)

  • Very good compatibility with PC – super readability of fonts, support for G-Sync and FreeSync Premium Pro.

  • Google TV at its best, fast and without annoying glitches

  • 2 remotes included

  • Pleasant, loud sound at 40 W from a 2.2 system.

Disadvantages

No like
  • Algorithms need refining – despite the increased number of dimming zones, contrast and brightness in difficult scenes sometimes fall short compared to the X90L

  • Screen mirroring practically didn’t work with Windows and Android

  • Only two HDMI 2.1 ports – for a TV of this class, that is definitely not enough, especially if someone plans to connect a console, soundbar, and additional devices

  • Movies and series in UHD quality

    7.0

  • Classic TV, YouTube

    7.4

  • Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)

    7.2

  • Gaming on console

    8.7

  • TV as a computer monitor

    8.0

  • Watching in bright light

    6.9

  • Utility functions

    7.6

  • Apps

    9.6

  • Sound quality

    7.0

SONY BRAVIA 5 (XR5) - Competing TVs in this price range

LG QNED86A / QNED85A / QNED87A 100”

Go to review

Samsung QN990F 98”

Go to review

TCL C8K 98”

A$3 997.00
Go to review

TCL C6K 98”

Go to review

Hisense U7Q 100”

Go to review

TCL C655 / C69B 98' 98”

Go to review

TCL MQLED85 / C765 98”

Go to review

Sony X90L 98”

Go to review

Samsung Neo QLED QN90D / QN92D 98”

Go to review

SONY BRAVIA 5 (XR5) - TV appearance

HDMI inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps) Outputs: Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI) Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps

Build quality: Premium

Stand type: Legs

Kolor ramki: Graphite

Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  Appearance of the TV Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  Appearance of the TV Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  Appearance of the TV Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  Appearance of the TV Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  Appearance of the TV Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  Appearance of the TV Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  Appearance of the TV Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  Appearance of the TV Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  Appearance of the TV
  • Stand: Height adjustment
  • Flat design: No
  • Accessories: Two remote controls, Stand

At first glance, the Bravia 5 closely resembles its two-year older sibling, the X90L. The differences are subtle but noticeable. The legs have been made more "flattened," giving the TV a sleeker silhouette, and the thin metal bezel around the screen looks elegant and minimalist. The back, on the other hand, is classic Sony – the distinctive pattern reminiscent of a chocolate bar, which has been their trademark since the XR series. However, in practice, there's quite a bit of plastic here, and the whole thing is fairly thick from this side. This means we won't be able to mount the Bravia 5 perfectly flat against the wall. Despite these drawbacks, the overall presentation is truly solid. You can see that we're dealing with a high-end device, one that not only gives the impression of working quickly but also looks good in the living room. It's not a design that will elicit a "wow" effect like the most expensive models, but no one would mistake the Bravia 5 for a cheap, plastic TV from a retail store.

SONY BRAVIA 5 (XR5) - Contrast and black detail

7.5/10

Local dimming function: Yes, number of zones: 190 (10 x 19)

Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  Contrast and black detail

Result

104,650:1

Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  Contrast and black detail

Result

23,850:1

Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  Contrast and black detail

Result

21,300:1

Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  Contrast and black detail

Result

9,350:1

Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  Contrast and black detail

Result

6,450:1

Visibility of details in the lights:

Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  Visibility of details in the lights

Bravia 5 is the entry-level TV in Sony's Mini-LED series for 2025, so naturally we start with the most important thing – how it performs with blacks and contrast. After all, the term "Mini-LED" today sounds almost like a magic spell. In theory, this means thousands of tiny diodes arranged in zones that are meant to work in harmony, dimming and brightening the image so that the viewer's eye perceives more depth than with a classic LCD. In practice, in the 65-inch Bravia 5, we counted around 200 backlight zones. Is that a lot? Definitely more than its predecessor, the legendary X90L model, but when you look at Chinese manufacturers who can pack in hundreds, sometimes even thousands of zones – it comes off as rather modest.

One might expect that combining a greater number of zones with the refined dimming algorithms that Sony has accustomed us to over the years would result in a qualitative leap compared to the X90L. Meanwhile – and this is where a slight disappointment arises – tests showed that the results are surprisingly similar to last year's model. Don't take this the wrong way: the contrast, for an LCD TV with local dimming, is really solid. In most scenes, bright elements are separated from dark ones with surgical precision, and the effect can be breathtaking. But when more demanding shots appear on screen – those that mercilessly test the capabilities of the backlight – it becomes clear that the hardware has its limitations.

Therefore, one could say that in terms of blacks and contrast, the Bravia 5 doesn't so much disappoint as rather fails to meet the hopes that the initial announcements ignited. We were hoping for at least a slightly better performance than its predecessor, and we got "only" good contrast. And that “only” is the key word here – because good contrast in Sony’s rendition still means a level that most competitors would be proud of.

Halo effect and black detail visibility:

SONY BRAVIA 5 (XR5) - HDR effect quality

5.4/10

Supported formats: HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG Color gamut coverage: DCI P3: 96.6%, Bt.2020: 74.7%

Luminance measurements in HDR:

Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  Brightness measurement

Result

637 nit

Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  Brightness measurement

Result

320 nit

Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  Brightness measurement

Result

550 nit

Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  Brightness measurement

Result

251 nit

Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  Brightness measurement

Result

731 nit

Looking at similar results in terms of black levels and contrast, we expected the same stable performance as last year's model when it comes to HDR content. Unfortunately – and this must be said plainly – there has been a regression here that is hard to miss. The paradox is that the peak brightness of the Bravia 5 can be impressive: in our synthetic tests, the TV reached around 1000 nits in HDR. Sounds great, right? The problem is that this power doesn't always have a real impact on all movie scenes. When small, pinpoint elements appear on the screen, something that in Sony's case was usually fine-tuned with surgical precision, this time it clearly falters. The algorithms try to maintain deep blacks around small objects, but the side effect is that details can be dimmed to the point of becoming barely visible. One only needs to bring up the example of the movie Sicario 2 – there, in some scenes, small light sources practically vanished as if someone had covered them with dark film.

Of course, not everything looks so dramatic. In simpler, brighter scenes, where the image is filled with more light, the Bravia 5 shows that it can shine: literally and figuratively. At those times, the TV achieves values in the range of 600–800 nits, which we saw both in synthetic tests and during movie screenings. The impression is really positive; the brightness adds dynamism, and the colours look vibrant and fresh. However, there remains a certain dissonance. We feel a slight confusion because it is evident that something has gone in the wrong direction. Technological progress – more zones, more backlight power – has not been supported by the kind of refined image management that we usually associate with Sony. Fortunately, there are elements that have not been compromised and are actually at a very high level. We are talking about colour reproduction. Thanks to the use of the PFS filter, the colour palette coverage is excellent – about 97% DCI-P3 and 75% BT.2020. These values allow for a truly wide colour reproduction, giving films a natural and cinematic character.

Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)

Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)

The photos show two HDR10 movies. 'Pan' is one of the brightest productions ever made, while 'Billy Lynn' (soldier) has brightness typical of streaming (Netflix, Prime, HBO MAX). Notice the intensity of effects and detail in whites.

Despite all the confusion that accompanied us during the tests of brightness and dimming algorithms, it is hard not to admit that the Bravia 5 can make an impression when we simply sit down in front of the screen and start a movie. This is the moment when numbers and tables cease to matter so much, and emotion takes precedence. And here Sony, almost in defiance of earlier criticisms, performs really well. During screenings of the already iconic "Mr." and "Billy Lynn", we had surprisingly little to criticise. Yes, slight colour deviations could be noticed, and the amount of detail in some shots could be a bit greater, but the overall picture can hardly be described as disappointing. Quite the opposite – most scenes were rendered with great precision and maintaining a cinematic quality that captures the eye and allows immersion in the plot. This is largely thanks to the dynamic tone mapping – a technology that Sony has been refining for years. Here it acts as a sort of rescue for scenes that on other TVs with a similar, somewhat “mixed” brightness, may fall simply flat. In the Bravia 5, especially when we turn on the “preferred gradation” mode (which we sincerely recommend doing right after purchase), the picture regains plenty of details. Details that can simply get lost in darkness or bright highlights on competing screens. Movies then take on depth and character, and the viewer gets the feeling they are watching something more than just a regular image – they get a taste of a true cinematic experience.

HDR luminance chart:

HDR luminance

We cannot overlook the topic of HDR formats, as they often determine how we ultimately perceive the image. In the case of Bravia 5, static HDR10 can deliver an unpleasant surprise. Sony, which has that "cinematic edge" in its DNA, can be overly aggressive here, leading to strong screen clipping in very bright scenes. On the test pattern with horses, the effect looked simply poor: the amount of detail in the brightest parts of the image was just blown out, as if someone had cranked up the brightness slider too far. Fortunately, help comes from the support of dynamic metadata in the form of Dolby Vision. This mode can adjust the brightness of the television scene by scene, and even frame by frame. And here, Bravia 5 shows its better side. The image suddenly gains precision, details are brought out, and clipping gives way to a more balanced, cinematic effect. The difference is noticeable to the naked eye, and the concerns we had with HDR10 practically disappear in Dolby Vision. This is very good news for those watching streaming platforms, as most of the content recorded there is indeed in this standard.

Static HDR10

Dynamic: Dolby Vision

The photos present the visibility of white details in various HDR formats. They do not show brightness differences between TVs (these can be compared in the previous gallery).

Factory color reproduction

5.5/10

Sony Bravia 5 was obviously tested in the best possible mode, which is the Movie mode. Right out of the box, it delivers the most natural colours, definitely better than anything offered by the "eco" or "dynamic" modes, which are more suited for a store display than a living room. However, the Movie mode alone does not guarantee that we can always expect cinematic picture quality. In SDR content, we had no significant complaints – the slightly warmed white balance gave the scenes a golden hue, but it was nothing that was glaring. However, a problem arose with HDR materials. Here, the colour reproduction simply looked bad. The white balance was heavily skewed – with an excess of blue and a clear lack of red. At times, it resembled the store mode of "super vivid picture," where everything is blown out and artificially boosted.

This situation made brightness management seem too aggressive as well. The EOTF graph clearly showed that the television has trouble with overexposing many scenes right out of the box. And while we know what Sony televisions are usually capable of, it was hard to remain indifferent here – that’s why we quickly decided to go for calibration.

This gallery shows how colors change after professional TV calibration. If you notice the difference, we recommend ordering this service at SkalibrujTV.com.

Color reproduction after calibration

8.9/10

After calibration, the situation changed dramatically. We managed to tune the white balance so that entire scenes began to look more natural, and the image gained coherence and elegance. In HDR, we finally got rid of that unwanted clipping effect that had previously spoiled some shots. Suddenly, it turned out that the Bravia 5 can extract much more from films than the first contact "straight out of the box" suggested. Indeed, if we look at the graphs and compare them with the standards, we can see that the beginning of the EOTF curve slightly strays beyond the reference line. However, this is not so much a calibration error as it is a natural limitation of the Mini-LED technology that cannot be bypassed. Sony, rather than clinging tightly to perfect black, prefers to prioritise the visibility of details – and in practice, it’s hard to disagree with that. We prefer to see the texture of the material on the screen rather than a pitch-black spot where all nuances disappear.

The calibration itself was really beneficial. After about an hour spent on settings, we felt that the image resembled that of the best cinema halls – of course on a home scale, but with the same sense of quality and refinement. And in such moments, we remember why we love Sony televisions: because once we fine-tune them, they reward us with a picture that captivates for long hours.

The photos show how movies look on the TV. Pay attention to black detail visibility, colors, and shadow tint.

SONY BRAVIA 5 (XR5) - Smoothness of tonal transitions

8.8/10

Tonality transitions are nothing more than the way a television handles blending colours and shades – from light to dark, from saturated to pastel. If the device struggles with this, you see characteristic "stairs" instead of smooth transitions, and the image loses its naturalness. It's those moments when instead of getting immersed in the film, we start glancing at the screen thinking, "hey, something's off here." Fortunately, in the Sony Bravia 5, such situations are practically non-existent. This is a huge advantage because nothing distracts our attention from the plot or the excitement of sports. The television performs best in bright scenes, where the colour transitions are smooth, and the blending of colours is nearly invisible. The effect is so good that sometimes it can feel like the image was painted in one brush stroke. Of course, there have been a few minor missteps. In darker scenes, certain imperfections can be noticed – slight banding or minimal gradation issues. For that reason, the Bravia 5 received a few negative points from us. Nevertheless, in the vast majority of situations, the television performs excellently and comes through this test with flying colours.

Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  Smoothness of tonal transitions Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  Smoothness of tonal transitions Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  Smoothness of tonal transitions Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  Smoothness of tonal transitions
Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  Smoothness of tonal transitions
Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  Smoothness of tonal transitions
Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  Smoothness of tonal transitions
Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  Smoothness of tonal transitions
These are selected scenes that show smooth tonal transitions from one color to another. If you see distinct banding, it’s the TV panel’s fault.

Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions

8.5/10

OK Smooth transition function

OK Image without overscan on the SD signal

The match photo shows how the TV smooths weak tonal transitions in low-quality video. The model photo shows how it handles upscaling of SD material.

Bravia 5 carries the genes of Sony, which remain intact – and thank goodness for that, because we're talking about absolutely exceptional digital image processing. It's no coincidence that for years, it's been considered that TVs from this brand set the standard for how a screen should handle lower quality materials. If someone still watches classic television, old films, or YouTube in lower resolutions, here they get equipment that can turn such content into a surprisingly enjoyable experience. On board, we find several tools worth activating. The first of these is "digital noise reduction." Set to a medium level, it works superbly – smoothing out tonal transitions that usually cause the most trouble in low-quality materials while introducing no artificial artifacts. Importantly, it also doesn't remove the cinematic character, which is the natural grain that is intentionally present in many productions. Another advantage of the Bravia 5 is the upscaling capabilities of the XR processor. The image presented after scaling is soft, yet sharp and clear. The outlines of characters are well-defined, and backgrounds maintain their texture without excessive artificial sharpening. It's hard to find a better TV for watching lower quality materials – Bravia 5 only confirms why Sony is considered the benchmark in this area.

SONY BRAVIA 5 (XR5) - Blur and motion smoothness

7.7/10

Maximum refresh rate of the panel: 120Hz

Film motion smoothing option: Yes

Blur reduction option: Yes

BFI function 60Hz: Yes, 120Hz (double contours)

BFI function 120Hz: Yes, 240Hz (double contours)

Brightness drop with BFI: 49%

Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  Blur and motion smoothness

Bravia 5 has a 120 Hz panel, which in itself sounds like an invitation to watch sports, fast matches or spectacular action films. However, the real magic begins when MotionFlow – Sony's proprietary motion smoother – comes into play. Thanks to this feature, we can adjust the character of the picture to our own preferences. The "smoothness" slider allows us to transition from a cinematic feel with a slight "judder" to a theatrical fluidity, where every ball in the match glides across the screen as if on a string. The higher the value, the smoother and more fluid it is; the lower it is, the more film-like and natural it becomes. In the options, we also find an additional setting that Sony calls "clarity". This is nothing more than the BFI function (which inserts black frames) aimed at improving motion sharpness. It sounds great in theory, but in practice, it must be used with caution. Why? Because all higher settings cause brightness drops of up to half, and in some cases, contour doubling also appears. So if we want to use it, we recommend setting it to the lowest level – "1" out of the available ten. That way, we gain a bit better motion sharpness without risking losing half the brightness of the picture.

Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):

Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate)
Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate)
Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate)

Blur (BFI function enabled):

Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  Image flickers in this mode
Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  Image flickers in this mode
Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  Image flickers in this mode

Smużenie (MotionFlow ON):

Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  Blur
Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  Blur
Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  Blur

But not everything is as perfect as we would like it to be. In terms of motion blur, there is a noticeable regression compared to the X90L model. In our UFO test, this was particularly evident with 120 Hz content – a distinct trail followed the object, most bothersome when the outlines were displayed on a dark background. This is the moment when expectations begin to clash with reality. Fortunately, the right MotionFlow configuration can completely eliminate this effect. After a few minutes fiddling with the settings, the picture becomes pleasing to the eye, and motion blur stops being an issue.

SONY BRAVIA 5 (XR5) - Console compatibility and gaming features

9.8/10

  • Yes ALLM: Yes
  • Yes VRR: Yes
  • Yes VRR range: 48 - 120Hz
  • Yes Dolby Vision Game Mode: Yes
  • Yes Correct implementation of HGIG: Yes
  • Yes 1080p@120Hz: Yes
  • Yes 1440p@120Hz: Yes
  • Yes 4K@120Hz: Yes
  • Yes Game bar: Yes
Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  Console compatibility and gaming features
Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  Console compatibility and gaming features

In the Bravia 5, there is a significant improvement compared to the X90L model from two years ago. The television offers literally everything its predecessor had, but this time the issues that could frustrate gamers have been addressed. Problems with setting the variable refresh rate (VRR) have disappeared, and there are no longer issues with configuring HDR content in HGiG mode. In short: we get a device that simply works as it should, without any hassles. So, the Bravia 5 has everything you can expect from a modern gaming TV – and it can be confidently advertised with the slogan "ready for PS5." That's something we couldn't say about the X90L model. Well done, Sony!

It's just a shame that this relatively high-priced model lacks a full set of four HDMI 2.1 ports. In everyday use, this won’t be an issue for most people, but if someone has a console, soundbar, and additional equipment connected via HDMI, at some point they'll have to choose or juggle cables.

Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  Console compatibility and gaming features
Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  Console compatibility and gaming features

SONY BRAVIA 5 (XR5) - Input lag

9.9/10

When it comes to input lag, the Bravia 5 deserves a round of applause. Results of around 7 ms at 120 Hz content are nothing short of phenomenal – it's hard to imagine a gamer complaining about such responsiveness. Even at 60 Hz, where the lag increases to around 15 ms, we're still talking about values that absolutely don't spoil the fun and are practically unnoticeable. Moreover, Sony has finally tamed the Dolby Vision mode. In the X90L, it was practically unplayable – the delays rose to levels of even 150 ms. Meanwhile, the input lag on the Bravia 5 remains at the same low level as with other content. This is a huge improvement and further proof that this television can truly be called "gamer-friendly."

SDR HDR Dolby Vision
1080p60: 16 ms 2160p60: 15 ms 2160p60 DV: 15 ms
1080p120: 7 ms 2160p120: 7 ms 2160p120 DV: 7 ms
2160p60: 16 ms
2160p120: 7 ms

SONY BRAVIA 5 (XR5) - Compatibility with PC

8/10

Chroma 444 (maximum resolution and refresh rate): Yes

Font clarity: Very Good

Readability of dark text and shapes: Very Good

Input lag in PC mode (4K, maximum refresh rate): 7ms

Matrix subpixel arrangement: BGR

Max refresh rate: 120Hz

G-Sync: Yes

The photo shows the legibility of small fonts. Ideally, lines should be the same thickness on both light and dark text, with minimal pixel gaps.

In this category, the Bravia 5 deserves an exemplary rating. The ideal readability of fonts thanks to 4:4:4 chroma support makes working on this TV a pure pleasure. Whether we are opening Excel, browsing documents, or simply surfing the web – the text is sharp, clear, and free from that characteristic “haze” which can effectively take away the joy of use in many TVs. The letters look as they should: distinct, sharp, and readable even up close.

We also have good news for PC gamers. The Bravia 5 has no problems at all with handling 120 Hz, working with both Nvidia and AMD cards, supporting G-Sync and FreeSync Premium Pro technologies. The result is that the image is not only smooth but also free from tears or micro-cuts that can ruin the experience even in the best-optimised games. You can easily connect a powerful PC and enjoy gaming on the big screen – without compromises, without frustration, and with full comfort. The only thing we could complain about is the lack of additional modes for gamers with higher refresh rates.

SONY BRAVIA 5 (XR5) - Viewing angles

3.2/10

Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees: 62%

Bravia 5 uses a classic VA panel, and that means one thing – the viewing angles are not one of its strong points. For those with smaller screen sizes, this won’t be a problem, as sitting directly in front, the picture looks fantastic. However, with larger sizes, especially 85 inches, the situation becomes less comfortable. It’s enough to sit slightly off-centre on the couch to notice minor imperfections: the image begins to lose saturation, contrast weakens, and black takes on unwanted greys. It’s a shame that Sony did not opt for additional coatings, which in the case of VA panels can bring their capabilities closer to IPS levels. Such solutions exist, and some competitors make use of them. Here, they are missing, so one has to reckon with the fact that Bravia 5 best showcases its strengths when viewed head-on.

SONY BRAVIA 5 (XR5) - TV efficiency during daytime

6.9/10

Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  TV efficiency during daytime
Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  TV efficiency during daytime

Matrix coating: Satin

Reflection suppression: Good

Black levels during daytime: Good

Bravia 5 is a piece of equipment that really performs well in challenging lighting conditions. Its high brightness ensures that even in the middle of the day, with the blinds wide open and sunlight streaming through the windows, the picture remains clear and sharp. There’s no feeling that we're watching a "washed-out" screen. The satin finish of the panel also plays a significant role in effectively reducing light reflections. Yes, some reflections do appear, but they are not strong enough to interfere with viewing. They are more like subtle glows that can be noticed when we consciously look for them, rather than a real problem day-to-day. Because of this, the Bravia 5 works well not just in the evening in a dimmed room, but also in bright living areas, where other TVs can falter. One could say that it's a "universally bright" model – suitable for both evening screenings and for watching news or sports in full sunlight.

Matrix brightness

Average luminance SDR

Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5) : 641 cd/m2

SONY BRAVIA 5 (XR5) - TV features

7.6/10

System: Google TV

System performance: Good

  • HDMI inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x HDMI 2.1 48Gbps
  • Outputs: Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)
  • Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
  • TV reception: DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C

Classic features:

  • Yes Recording to USB (terrestrial TV): Yes
  • Yes Recording programming: Yes
  • No Picture in Picture (PiP): No
  • RF RF remote control (no need to aim at the screen): RF
  • No Backlit remote control: No
  • Yes Teletext: Yes
  • Yes Audio only mode: Yes
  • Yes Bluetooth headphones support: Yes
  • Yes Simultaneous Bluetooth headphones & TV audio: Yes

Smart features:

  • Yes AirPlay: Yes
  • No Screen mirroring (Windows Miracast): No
  • Yes Voice search: Yes
  • Yes Voice search in native language: Yes
  • Yes Ability to connect a keyboard and mouse: Yes
Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  TV features
Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  TV features
Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  TV features
Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  TV features
Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  TV features Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  TV features Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  TV features Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  TV features

GoogleTV and SmartTV features

Sony Bravia 5 runs on Google TV, and it must be said that this is one of the best-optimised systems in this brand's offering. The interface works smoothly, with no annoying bugs or bizarre translations, and navigating the menu doesn’t feel like walking through a minefield. Admittedly, there are moments when the whole system catches a slight breath – as if it has its “weaker moments” – but these are rare enough not to spoil the overall impression. We have full AirPlay support, voice search with Google AI assistance, and the ability to download practically any app that comes to mind. The only drawback in tests turned out to be the screen mirroring function, which theoretically should work with laptops and phones, but in practice proved almost useless – there was no stable image on Windows and Android.

User features

From the perspective of classic functionality, the Bravia 5 performs solidly and practically. A big plus is the presence of two remotes – one is a slim, modern smart remote, while the other, although operating via infrared, has a classic numeric keypad. This way, we can always choose which one suits the situation better. The EPG, or electronic programme guide, is clear and allows you to programme recordings to a USB drive – a seemingly simple solution, but incredibly useful. Additionally, the TV supports connecting a variety of devices: from an amplifier or soundbar via HDMI eARC, to headphones and other wireless accessories via Bluetooth. This is a set that makes the TV not just a screen, but a well-thought-out home entertainment centre.

Sound connection options

HDMI audio:

eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)

Other audio outputs:

  • Yes Toslink: Yes

Wireless audio:

  • Yes Bluetooth: Yes

Obsługiwane formaty audio:

  • Yes Dolby Digital Plus 7.1: Yes
  • No Dolby True HD 7.1: No
  • Yes Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC): Yes
  • No Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD: No
  • Yes DTS:X in DTS-HD MA: Yes
  • Yes DTS-HD Master Audio: Yes

Ułatwienia dla seniorów

  • Yes Numeric keyboard on TV: Yes
  • No Font size adjustment: No
  • Yes Audio description: Yes

SONY BRAVIA 5 (XR5) - Apps

9.6/10

OK
Disney_Plus
OK
Amazon_Prime_Video
OK
Player_TVN
OK
Polsat_Box_Go
OK
Canal_Plus_Online
OK
TVP_VOD
OK
Apple_TV_Plus
OK
SkyShowtime
OK
Rakuten
OK
CDA_Premium_Browser
OK
Spotify
OK
Tidal
OK
Netflix
OK
YouTube
OK
HBO_MAX
OK
Kodi
No
Apple_music
OK
Eleven_sports
No
Xbox Game Pass
OK
GeForce Now!
No
Amazon Luna
OK
Boosteroid
OK
Steam Link

SONY BRAVIA 5 (XR5) - Playing files from USB

8.9/10

Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  Playing files from USB
Maximum photo resolution:Supported photo formats:
Yes 4 Mpix
Yes JPEG
Yes 6 Mpix
Yes HEIC
Yes 8 Mpix
No PNG
Yes 10 Mpix
No GIF
Yes 12 Mpix
No WebP
Yes 16 Mpix
No TIFF
Yes 20 Mpix
No BMP
Yes 24 Mpix
No SVG
Yes 28 Mpix
Yes 32 Mpix

Bravia 5 handles multimedia playback from USB quite efficiently. In practice, nearly everything works – movies, music, photos – although of course we encountered some minor issues. Some subtitles can be troublesome, as can exotic photo formats, which were not always correctly recognised. However, this is standard in the world of televisions, and it's hard to take it too seriously. A significant advantage, though, is that thanks to Android, we are not limited to the system player. It's enough to install an external app, like VLC, and all restrictions disappear. This is the strength of this system – the manufacturer does not confine us to their ecosystem, but rather gives us the freedom of choice.

SONY BRAVIA 5 (XR5) - Sound

7/10

84dB

Maximum volume

Supported codecs

(TV speakers)

Yes Dolby Digital Plus 7.1

No Dolby True HD 7.1

Yes Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC)

No Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD

Yes DTS:X in DTS-HD MA

Yes DTS-HD Master Audio

Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  TV features
Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  TV features
Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  TV features Review Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)  TV features

Bravia 5 positively surprises in terms of audio. The sound is pleasant, with a slightly noticeable bass thanks to the proprietary Bass Reflex speakers. Overall, it plays loudly, clearly, and definitely above average for a television – 40 W power in a 2.2 setup is an impressive result in this class. The placement of the speakers on the sides of the casing also plays a significant role, as it allows the sound to fill the room and creates a sense of space. However, one should not get carried away with optimism. This is still not the level of even the simplest soundbar. The Bravia 5 performs excellently in everyday use, but for those who enjoy strong sound and a cinematic effect, additional audio equipment will be a must – as is the case with nine out of ten televisions available today on the market.

Acoustic Measurements

84dBC (Max)

75dBC

SONY BRAVIA 5 (XR5) - Details about the matrix

Software version during testing: BRAVIA_AE2_eu-user 12 STT2.231117.001 632050 release-keys

Image processor: MT5897 6GB RAM

Panel uniformity and thermal imaging:

Backlight Type: PFS LED

Maciej Koper Avatar
Maciej Koper

Founder and originator of the "ChooseTV" portal

Paweł Koper Avatar
Paweł Koper

Journalist, reviewer, and columnist for the "ChooseTV" portal

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